After one of the worst collapses in NBA playoff history in Game 1 of this Eastern Conference Finals, many were quick to count the Knicks out when they were down 20 in Game 3. Sensing that time was running out, Tom Thibodeau decided something needed to change.
In Game 1 they led by nine points with under a minute remaining—a scenario where teams had been 1,414–0. That loss set a crushing tone for the series. Game 2 was a competitive, back-and-forth battle, but the Pacers made just enough plays down the stretch to escape with a 2–0 lead on the road.
Facing a must-win Game 3 in front of a fired-up Indianapolis crowd, head coach Tom Thibodeau surprised many by removing key contributor Josh Hart from the starting lineup in favor of big man Mitchell Robinson; that pregame move would not be the only stunning decision Thibodeau would make on the night.
Thibodeau Lets Bench Spark a Pulse
While the Knicks and Pacers traded blows to start the game, both Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns picked up three fouls by the second quarter. Before long, the Knicks were down 20 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and staring at a 3–0 series hole. That deficit, combined with the foul trouble, forced Thibodeau to get creative by leaning on his bench.
In a rare move, Thibodeau turned to Landry Shamet and Delon Wright—two veteran guards who hadn’t seen the floor all series. Their fresh legs paid off. Shamet, in particular, gave the Knicks a much-needed spark.
Though he scored just three points, he posted a team-best +12 in 11 minutes, contributing with smart defense, crisp ball movement, and a steadying presence the team had been missing. Wright added poise in the backcourt, helping facilitate the offense and disrupt Indiana’s perimeter rhythm on defense.
Thibodeau’s ingenuity and risk-taking kept the Knicks alive. Still, even with the lineup shakeups and renewed energy, the Knicks entered the fourth quarter down 10.
With just four points through three quarters and the season hanging in the balance, Towns came alive.
KAT Ignites the Comeback
Towns wasted no time making his presence felt. On the opening possession of the fourth, he drilled a three off of a Josh Hart offensive rebound. It was his first field goal since the opening quarter, and it flipped a switch. From that moment on, the Knicks’ offense ran through him, and Indiana had no answer.
Towns followed with a driving layup and then found Wright in transition for an easy finish that cut the deficit to five, prompting a quick Pacers timeout. Moments later, he converted a three-point play to give the Knicks their first lead since the opening frame. What began as a quiet night turned into a full-on takeover.
Towns did it all with Jalen Brunson—New York’s usual closer—on the bench for most of the fourth due to foul trouble. Brunson played just three minutes in the final quarter, leaving Towns to shoulder the offensive load. Towns delivered.
With five minutes remaining, Towns rose up and buried a contested 30-foot step-back three over Myles Turner, putting the Knicks ahead by four and silencing the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd. It was the signature moment of a dominant finish. Towns ended with 20 points in the fourth alone, controlling the offensive end and dragging the Knicks back into the series.
Make or Break Game 4
Now down just 2–1, the Knicks have given themselves new life; Game 4 becomes the defining moment of the series. A win evens things up and shifts all the pressure back to Indiana and into Madison Square Garden. A loss and New York finds itself back on the edge.
After sitting most of the fourth in Game 3 due to foul trouble, Jalen Brunson will be critical in Game 4. The Knicks need their All-NBA guard on the floor to dictate pace and take pressure off of Towns late in the game. If Brunson returns to form, and New York continues to get energy from its bench and production from its role players, they’ll have every opportunity to steal another one on the road. They can take control of a series that once felt lost.
1 Comment